Preparing your compressed air system for cold temperatures

The change of the season is a great time to make sure your compressed air system is in good working condition in preparation for the cold months ahead. Follow these tips to increase your compressor room’s energy efficiency throughout the winter months.

Regular maintenance plans can help your compressed air system remain as energy efficient as possible all year long. Well-maintained plants are often the most energy efficient and suffer from less downtime than plants that don’t make maintenance a top priority.

Make sure the following areas of the compressed air system are in good working condition:

1. Check drains throughout the system for clogging and efficiency. Don’t forget to check the drains in the air treatment equipment, including the system’s air dryers, receivers and filters.
2. Identify and fix air leaks. Even the smallest compressed air system leak can be a big drain on resources; identify and fix leaks now to increase your system’s efficiency.
3. Clean filters. If compressed air is not filtered properly, or if the filter is clogged, pressure drops occur more frequently and product contamination risk increases.

You may be familiar with the term winterization, which involves preparing your facility for the cold months ahead. Energy efficiency experts suggest preparing for seasonal changes twice a year, both in preparation for the hot months of summer and the cold months of winter. Set a reminder on your calendar to check up on your system once the snow has melted and warm temperatures are on the way.

In the meantime, tackle the following check-list items for your compressor room and your entire facility:

1. Check weather stripping and replace areas that are worn out and no longer working properly.
2. Check insulation to make sure the heat is staying inside.
3. Check drains and air intake openings to make sure there is adequate protection from increased rain or snow.

What if you could offset the cost of producing hot water for washrooms and equipment cleaning, or the costs of directing warm air into a workspace, warehouse, loading dock or entryway? Compressor room efficiency can be maximized by utilizing heat recovery, a process that captures the heat byproduct from your compressed air and reuses it in other areas of the facility. In optimal conditions, as much as 90 percent of the heat produced by compressing air can be recovered. As utility costs rise in certain areas of the country, technologies that can reduce your energy costs are worth careful consideration.